AP Literature and CompositionNick Del GiudicePeriod 28/5/14

A] Kingsolver uses a different voice in the first person perspective to make each of the daughters separate and different from the last. Rachels voice is typified with a myriad of spelling errors to reinforce the contrast between her vacuousness and her younger sisters relative brilliance. This also allows Rachels voice to act as the stereotypical, period correct, voice of America; making full use of ignorant misconceptions, and prejudices. This is polarized by the juxtaposition of all of her younger sisters attitudes, Ruth May perhaps being the greatest in contrast. Ruth Mays voice is truly that of a child. It is innocent, nave, and concerned with little besides the concerns of a child. Namely, food, animals, and friendship. It is that friendship that perhaps seperates Ruth Mays voice the most from her older sister, Rachels, voice. Whereas Rachel is always afraid of the Africans, never trusting them, nor caring to make friends with them, it is Ruth May who makes the first friends in the village do to her kind, trusting, and gregarious nature. Perhaps the least extreme voices, and the most realistic in the novel are provided by the twins, Adah and Leah. Leahs voice is the voice of many emotions. Leah often speaks for both the happy and sad emotions of her family. She is the open one who develops real relationships with the Africans of the village (Anatole, Nelson, and Pascal). Consequently, she provides perhaps the most human commentary on the story, reacting with a brashness that the other sisters cannot even approach. Finally, there is the commentary of Adah. To say that it is both cynical and brilliant would be two understatements. Adah provides a poison tongued commentary, spewing cynicisms on both her own family, the Congo, and the United States. These spiteful, and often humorous commentaries are wrought of her unwillingness to speak generally. As a mostly silent observer, she is best prepared to truly judge the world around her. Due to her humorous, and witty commentary, as a reader, I enjoyed Adahs commentary the most. I identified more with her than any of the other characters, because dark humor is how I usually greet all of my own adversity.

B]Patrice Lumumba] The Price family in itself is a symbol. The Price Family is a symbol of the Congo as a nation. The Congos real beginning was promising, with explorers from Europe bringing civilization to the nation. It was exciting, much like the betrothal of Orleanna and Nathan in the beginning. However, it was soon tainted with a dark presence and time. For the Congo, the rule of King Leopold and the Free Belgian Congo corporation, for the Price family, Nathans survival and exclusion from the Bataan death march. From that point on, there will be no peace or comfort. The time in the Congo for the Price family can be compared to the time of revolutions for the Congo. It began with much hope for saving people, and began with much hope as the Belgians left, elections were held, and then Lumumba was elected. However, it shortly thereafter went to hell in a handbasket. For the Prices, Nathans personal mission and harshness become a waking hell for them in the harsh environment, and for Congo, Lumumbas death and Mobutus installment begin a waking hell for the Congolese people that exists to this day. That continuing conflict in Congo can be compared to the sisters continual inability to get along with one another.

PART # 2A] The African concepts of Nommo, and Muntu do not have a direct correlation in western thought, however, they can be compared. First, Muntu is the individuality of a being. Whether that being is dead, alive, asleep or whatnot, its muntu is, and will remain unique. The closest western concept that can be compared is a beings soul. It remains incorruptible despite a beings existence status, it remains as it is. Nommo, on the other hand is the concept of a being existing, and being alive based on its name. Nommo and Muntu are irrevocably connected. A persons nommo determines their muntus nature. There is really no western equivalent to compare it to. Often, in the west a name is given simply to tag a title to a muntu. Eventually, and epithet may be made to a persons name which is based off of the things they accomplished, rather the opposite of the concept of Nommo.

B] Though it is a personal narrative, Poisonwood Bible is primarily a political allegory analyzing the nature of justice, balance, betrayal, salvation, guilt, innocence, freedom, and captivity. Justice is examined throughout the book, largely by the way in which the Congolese live and are treated, first by the Belgians, and then by the Americans and Mobutu. Despite the Congolese peoples genuine attempt at self government, and freedom, they are unjustly thrust into a despotic kleptocracy founded on oppression and fear. This is also an exponent for betrayal. As Nathan Price betrayed the well being of his progeny for his and the Congos salvation, Mobutu betrayed his own country for his own lavish entertainment and life. Another concept examined is the concept of guilt. Especially whether or not guilt is justified. Nathan Price is a perfect example, being driven to madness, seeking to convert the Congo by his own survivors guilt from the Bataan Death March. It is also explored in the family when the daughters or Orleanna experience guilt when doubting or wanting to leave Nathan. On the flip side, innocence is portrayed in some way or another by all of the daughters, particularly Ruth May, who in herself is a symbol of innocence. Freedom and captivity is dually explored with the family, feeling freedom away from Nathan, and captivity in the Congo with him. It is explored in the nation of Congo with the brief stint as an independent nation under Lumumba, and captivity is experienced to this day during an oppressive government rule and multiple rebel groups vying for control.

A] Poisonwood bible, besides its obvious political allegory, makes few points about story telling, particularly Orleanna Price. Poisonwood Bible truly puts its belief in the experiential power of words on a page. That each and every story told, is a story of people and what they have done, or wish to do. Encompassing the greatest hopes, and deepest malice of humanity. In the end, Orleanna Price is afraid of judgment due to the guilt she feels for what she has done (in reference to her hand in the destruction of Congo and her family). The statement of the story being about my life: what I stole from history, and how I live with it. Belies the chief difference. It is common for people to say that history is written by the victors, The Poisonwood Bible puts forth however, that the history is not just written by the victors, but all who took place in the battle, all those who lived in that history (winners, losers, and those just stuck in between), and how they all move forward living with what history has happened.

B] This novel is very clearly a political allegory. The family is a symbol for the Congo in itself, starting on shaky ground and just devolving until total dissolution. The political allegory is rather simple to understand, and perhaps a bit too obvious, though still powerful. In terms of religious Allegory, one is tempted to go for the religious allegory that Kingsolver planted with her two stories of Daniel brought to life by the daughters. However, that is too easy. A hidden religious allegory that can be found is the story of Abraham and Isaac as compared to Nathan Price. Abraham, on blind faith, was willing to sacrifice his son because he believed it was gods will. Isaac thankfully was saved at the last moment when god revealed it was a test of faith. However, in the Congo, a place routinely described as having been left by god a long time ago, Nathan Price was prepared to make the same sacrifice of all his children and wife, after ignoring all of the warning signs to get out.